INGLESHWAR (Cave near)
16.641700,76.029200
Description
A natural temple cave in laterite is not only sacred to Hindus but also reputed to give access to a fabulous tunnel leading underground to a correspondign laterite cave, the »cavern on the hill of Nageswar« (NEWBOLD, T J 1844b: 1003), »cavern at Nagarhal« (NEWBOLD, T J 1846f: 234) or –>Nageshwar (13 km in a direct line SSE). ETYMOLOGY: No autochthonous, indigenous or locally known name has been identified for this temple cave which has been referred to by the name of the village of Ingleshwara or Ingleswara, Ingleswara, Inglisswara and »Ingaieshwer« (note 1)SITUATION: »Near Ingleswara, in the South Mahratta country [note 2], are some laterite ranges« (NEWBOLD, T J 1846f: 228) and the entrance to the cave is in the laterite »near the summit« (NEWBOLD, T J 1844b: 1003) of a hill (note 3) south-east of Ingleshwar, which lies about 10 km or 15 km approximately north-east of Bagevadi or Basavana Bagevadr (note 4), which itself lies 43 km (India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth 2006: 99 H3, 100 A3) along roads from Bijapur (16°50'N: 75°42'E) south-east towards Hospet (N15°16': E76°24'). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1844: »The laterite cliffs of Ingleswara like those of Beder [note 5], Sondur [note 6], and on the western coast, are cavernous [note 7]: one of the caves near the summit, is held sacred by the Hindus. The entrance was barred by a locked gate; it is said by the natives (credat Judæus) to communicate with another similar cavern on the hill of Nageswar [see: Cave at –>Nageshwar], also said to be of laterite, about three coss [about 12 or 18 km] to the south-west. Near the mouth is one of those remnants of the strange ophitic [note 8] adoration that prevailed over great part of South India, in the shape of an image, of which the upper portions resemble those of a young female, and the lower terminating in the coils of a serpent« (NEWBOLD, T J 1844b: 1003). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1846: »There is a similar cavern [note 9] in the laterite hills of Ingleswara, in the Southern Mahratta country (of the extent of which the natives have the same extravagant traditions) and said to communicate with another cavern at Nagarhal« (NEWBOLD, T J 1846f Summary: 234). CAVE POTENTIAL: »The natives aver the cavern is of incredible extent« (NEWBOLD, T J 1846f Summary: 233). CULTURAL HISTORY - human use (religious industry outlet): »The Brahmans, ever vigilant in taming the phenomena of nature to extending their dominion over the minds of the superstitious Hindu, have seized on both these last caverns [the cave near Ingleshwar and –>Tarkasura's Cave, Sandur] have converted them to places of idol worship, and guard their entrances with Cerberean pertinacity« (NEWBOLD, T J 1846f Summary: 234).
NOTE 1: Ingleshwar, the populated place near (±1 km) N16°39'10”: E76°01'05" (AMS sheet NE43-15 Bijapur, U502 series, 1960 edition) or N16°39': E76°01' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003), the same as Ingaieshwer [sic! qua: Ingaleshwar] India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth (2006: 100 A3) Ingaleshwar (no instance of use recorded) Ingleswara NEWBOLD (1844b: 1002, 1003); NEWBOLD (1846f: 228, 234) Ingliswara NEWBOLD (1846f: 234) Inglisswara NEWBOLD (1844b: 1000) and »2223« the height near (±1 km) N 16°38'30”: E 076°01'45”: 667.6 m (AMS sheet NE43-15 Bijapur, U502 series, 1960 edition). NOTE 2: »Southern Mahratta« (NEWBOLD 1846f Summary: 234): »Southern Maratha Country (or Bombay Carnatic) is the portion of the old Karnata, the Kanarese country … and comprises the Districts of Belgaum, Bijapur, Dharwar, and North Kanara above the western Ghats, with the Native States of Kolhapur and Southern Maratha Agency … Where it adjoins the Deccan plains, the Bombay Southern Maratha Country is, like them, a treeless, flat tract, scantily watered and interspersed with rocky hill ranges. Farther south the western portion is covered with forest, which is dense on the line of the Western Ghats, but open out to permit of cultivation where the country becomes more level. Farther east again is a well-watered and fertile plain, supplied with numerous irrigation reservoirs, beneath which are valuable spice gardens and irrigated crops« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 23: 91). NOTE 3: An anonymous height »2223« (feet) near (±500 m) N16°38'30”: E76°01'45": 667.6 m asl is indicated on AMS sheet NE43-15 Bijapur (U502 series, 1960 edition) and about a kilometre in a direct line south-east of Ingleshwar (N16°39'10”: E76°01'05"), the populated place (city, town, village, or other agglomeration of buildings where people live and work). NOTE 4: Bagevadi or Basavana Bagevadi (N16°35': E75°58' nima.mil/geonames, accessed 16.11.2003) and »Bagwari« (NEWBOLD, T J 1844b: 1003) is indicated as »Bageradi« on AMS sheet NE43-15 Bijapur (U502 series, 1960 edition) but as »Basavana Bagevadr« on the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 100 A3). NOTE 5: »Beder« (NEWBOLD, T J 1844b), Bidar, town near N17°54': E77°33'. NOTE 6: Sandur (±1 km) N15°05': E76°33'; circa (±20 m) 560 m asl (Everest 1830, Survey of India sheet 57-A/12, edition 1978) with bus stand and PS (police station) near (±200 m) N15°05'03”: E076°32'57”: circa (±10 m) 562 m asl (Survey of India 57-A/08 edition 1976). Jondoor NEWBOLD, T J (1845c: 514) Sandoor SMITH, G (1882: 381) Sandur FRANCIS, W (1904: 320); IMPERIAL GAZETTEER (1907-1909, 22: 42-48); AMS sheet ND43-04 Bellary (U502 series, 1961 edition); Survey of India sheet 57-A/12 (edition 1978); INDIA ROAD ATLAS (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 107 F2) Sondoor NEWBOLD, T J (1846f: 228) Sondur NEWBOLD, T J (1838: 128; 1845c: 515, 517, 519; 1846e: 233); CRAVEN, S A (1969: 25). NOTE 7: Caves near Bidar: –>Farabagh Cavern Spring, –>Kalyani Chasms and –>Kalyani Rock Chambers. Sandur: –>Cuptaswami Cave, –>–>Guptaswami Cave, Kanevihalli Recesses, Ramandrug Cave, Tarkasura's Cave, Upududupudu Swami Gavi, Upududupudu Swami Gavi 2, and Upududupudu Swami Gavi 3. NOTE 8: »ophitic« (NEWBOLD, T J 1844b: 1003) from "ophites" (Greek), "serpentine stone" from "ophis", snake, + " -ic", -ish, -like. NOTE 9: Similar to –>Tarkasura's Cave, Sandur.
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1843 (±1): »The Brahmans, ever vigilant in taming the phenomena of nature to extending their dominion over the minds of the superstitious Hindu, have seized on both these last caverns [the »cavern in the laterite hills of Ingleswara« and –>Tarkasura's Cave, Sandur] have converted them to places of idol worship, and guard their entrances with Cerberean pertinacity« (NEWBOLD, T J 1846f: 234).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12.1 | NAGESHWAR HILL (Cavern on the) | ||
| 67.8 | BHUYAR, Indi | ||
| 167.7 | KALYANI ROCK CHAMBERS | ||
| 167.7 | KALYANI RIFT CHASMS | ||
| 169.7 | KARUSA CAVES, Hasagaon | ||
| 171.4 | DHARASHIVA CAVES | ||
| 201.1 | MANIKONDA (Caves at) | ||
| 208.2 | TADIKONDA ROCK-SHELTER | ||
| 213.5 | HAZAR KOTHRI |